Reverse signaling device for vehicles



June 14, 1960 w. GIERKE ErAL REVERSE SIGNALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 24, 1959 INVENTORS WAYNE GIER/(E FRANK L. GUYER BY 52% s FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS BELL RINGS 4 II I .lllllllllll 2,940,416 REVERSE SIGNALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Wayne 'Gierke and L. Gnye'r, both of 650 Newmark, Empire, oieg. Filed Feb. 24, 1959, Ser-QNo. 791,948- clams.- (Cl. 116-48 This invention relates to a reverse signaling device for vehicles. More specifically, this invention relates to Patented June 14, 196,0

2 ce'ive the fastener which "secure the vehicle wheel to. the hub. More than two'e'ars may be provided on the bell to assure secui'efast'enin'g if desired. p

Extending along a diameter of a cylindrical wall pore tion of the bell is a pipe 20 (see Fig. 2). The pipe 20 may be held in "position by being secured at either end to the inside of'the wall of the bell. Altrnately the pipe a device which will utter an audible signal when the vehicle moves in a reverse direction.

In the prior art there are several devices adapted for attachment to a rotatable element to indicate audibly when the element rotates. One such device is shown in the Letters Patent 2,495,698, to Ohilson, granted by the United States Patent Ofiice on January 31, 1950. This device includes a circular bell having a pipe disposed along a diameter thereof. A ball is movable in the pipe and the device is attached to a rotatable element. As the element rotates, the ball rolls in the pipe from one end to the other, repeatedly hitting alternate sides of the bell creating an audible signal.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved signaling device which when attached to a rotatable element utters a signal only when the element rotates in a certain direction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sturdy, rugged device of inexpensive construction and foolproof operation.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle having an embodimeut of the device of the invention attached to a rear wheel thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of an embodiment of the device of the invention, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Briefly, in an alarm device adapted for attachment to and rotation with a rotatable element, said device including a bell having a pipe mounted along a diameter thereof, the pipe supporting a movable ball adapted as the device rotates to strike alternate sides of the bell, the invention is a trap member mounted against the side pipe at one end thereof. An opening in the pipe communicates to the trap member, and when the device is rotated in a certain direction, the ball falls into the trap member and there remains noiselessly confined as rotation in that direction continues. When, on the other hand the device rotates in the opposite direction, the ball rolls out of the trap member into the pipe and functions as the devices of the prior art. 7

More specifically, referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a truck generally designated 10. To its rear left wheel is attached an embodiment of the device 12 of the invention. The device comprises a bell 14 having a circular wall of curved metal plate or the like. Extending inwardly from diametric opposite points on the inside of the hell are a pair of ears 16, each of which is apertured toward its inward end. These apertures remay be heldat its middle by means extending inwardly from the ears 16. Iii the last embodiment, the ends of the pipe do not contact the inside wall of thebell. Movably supported withirithe' pipe is a ball 22. The ball is s'uificiently smaller than the inside diameter of the pi e so that it is free to roll therein. It may thus be seen that if the device in Fig. 2 is mounted on a rotatable wheel and rotated in a clockwise direction, the ball repeate'dly will strike alternate sides of the bell.

The improvement which constitutes our invention is a trap member 24'. It is situated adjacent one end of the pipe 20 and comprises as shown in Fig. 4 a downward appendage which is hollow and large enough to receive the ball 22. Trap member 24 is preferably U-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 4 and is secured to the underside of the pipe 20. At its inner end, the trap member includes an end wall portion 26 depending also from the underside of the pipe 20.

As seen in Fig. 2 an opening 28 at the end of the pipe into the trap member 24 permits passage of the ball 22. This opening is positioned at the extreme end of the pipe. It is noted that the end wall portion 26 of trap member 24 is spaced :1 distance from the opening 28 toward the center of the bell to permit the trap to receive the ball in that direction at least to a point where the center of the ball is positioned toward the inside of the bell from the edge of the opening 28. The distance, logically, is at least as great as the radius of the ball. This, as can be visualized, permits the ball 22 (represented by dotted lines) to be still supported in the trap member 24 when the device is rotated to a position 180 in a counterclockwise direction from that position shown in Fig. 2.

With the foregoing explanation of the structure of the device of our invention, its operation will be obvious. It will be understood that when the vehicle 10 travels in a forward direction, there will be no need for an alarm; and that when the vehicle travels in a reverse direction and the vision of the driver is impaired the audible signal will be needed. Keeping this in mind, it will be seen that when the structure as shown in Fig. 2 rotates in a clockwise direction, the ball (represented by a solid line) will roll down the pipe and strike the bell at a. Rotation continuing, the ball-will roll along the pipe to strike the bell at b and so on. If, however, the device is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the ball will, as shown in Fig. 2 first roll down and strike the bell at b. It will then roll in a reverse direction with respect to pipe 29 to strike the bell at a. The rotation continuing, the ball will roll along the inside of the bell through the opening and into the trap member 24. It will then roll in the trap member 24 to the end wall portion 26 thereof and continuously back and forth inside the small confine of the trap member 24 as the counter-clockwise rotation of the device continues. balls striking the bell at c will be almost inaudible.

It will also be understood that the bell'will not. ring a when the vehicle runs rearwardly at a considerable rate of speed. This is because the rapid rotation of the device in Fig. 2 will cause the ball to cling by centrifugal This confine is so small that the We claim:

1. In an alarm device adapted for attachment to and rotation with a rotatable element, said device providing an. audible signal-in rotation'ofj saijd element-and comg sa 2 a p p m e ii u sa d. bellwith'the axis improvement of a trap member large enough-to receive said ball; said-trap member being positioned under and adjacent one end of said pipe,-isaid trap memberjhaving its" upper extending in the same direction as said pipe-and adapted to be engaged by, said bal-l, said pipe having at t he said end an opening into said trap memher to permit passage ofsaid balhandsaid trap member having anendwall portion spaced from: said opening a distance toward the opposite end of the 'pipe equal at least to the radiusof the ball; '7 V 1 o 2.:111' anal-arm device adapted for attachment to and rotation with a rotatable; element, said device providing anaudible signal in rotation ofsaid element'and comprising 'a .bell having a circular wall -portion,"a' pipe mounted in said bell with. the axis of said pipe extending approximately along a diameter'of circular wall portion, a relativelymoVableball supported .within said pipe; the improvement of a trap member of U-shape cross-section large enough to receive said ball, said trap member being secured along its upper edges to the under- 5 side of one end of the pipe, the underside of the pipe 7 ballbeing-adaptedio engage the vupper walLot saidatrap member, said pipe having at its'extreme'the 'said'end an 10 p fl ols vap mcmberito-p rmit pas ase of said ball, said trap mnemberihavingfan end'.wallportion spaced from the saidopening ai distance: toward the opposite end of said pipe equal -atleast to theradiiis ofthe ball,

7 whereby as saidgdeviceg is rotatedin one direction the 15 ball rolls back and forth the length of the pipe and repeatedly audibly strikes alternately opposite points on the bell, and as said device is rotated in the opposite direc- 1 tion said ball passes through said opening' into said trap and is confined relatively'poisgkssly therein,;

7 lieferences the fileof patent p STATES PATENTS 7 1,905,261 7 Bernstrom 1 Q.. Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0a 2 940 416 June 141 1960 Wayne Gierke et :118

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 7 for Alternately read Alternative- 13/ column 4 line 9 strike out "its extreme"e Signed and sealed this 8th day of November 1960:

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE ROBERT G WATSON Attesting Oficer Commissioner of Patents 

